Curvy Knits

Plus-Size Knitting

Knitters of every size and shape will gain wisdom from Marly, who shows you how to change stitch counts to address any shaping issue.

Are you a plus-size knitter? Tired of spending hours of work, and mega yarn bucks, to make sweaters that just don't look good on you? Knitwear designer Marly Bird created Curvy Knits: Plus-Size Knitting just for you. You'll learn how to adjust your patterns to make custom-fit garments, and find the best styles, design features, yarns and stitch patterns to fit and flatter the plus-size woman. Marly's humor and warmth make it fun!

Lesson plan

10:45

Lesson 1. Introduction

Meet Marly Bird, knit and crochet designer who loves to design beautiful things for curvy women. She explains what's coming up in Curvy Knits and talks about what skills you should have to best appreciate the course, as well as how to use the Craftsy interactive platform.

34:10

Lesson 2. Honest Measurements

Job one to achieve perfect-fitting garments is to know your dimensions, so grab a tape measure and some friends, and prepare for an enlightening experience. Then Marly explains what your favorite sweater will teach you, and shows you how knit and purl stitches, as well as lace and cables, can be perfect for plus-size women.

37:28

Lesson 3. Duct Tape Mannequin

Here's where you put those measurement skills into practice. Make a life-size mannequin of yourself! It costs $50, not $400, and helps you check fit as you knit. Round up some friends and let the duct taping begin!

16:45

Lesson 4. Choosing Patterns and Yarn

Garment design and yarn choice can make a big difference between knitting something that you'll wear often and something that makes you look like a Sherman tank. Marly explains how to choose a pattern that will flatter you, and select the best yarn for fit and appearance.

26:21

Lesson 5. Swatching: Creating Your Fabric

You wouldn't start sewing something without sampling the fabric, would you? That's what swatching is: Creating a fabric sample that tells you how your garment will perform, before you waste money and time knitting a garment you don't like. You'll learn how to use oversized swatches as a stitch library and a test platform for shaping and garment care.

28:29

Lesson 6. Shaping Your Knitting

Charts and diagrams will help you figure out how to take the information from your favorite sweater and use it to change a pattern. You will learn how to use shaping with lace and cables so your sweater fits perfectly, adding design elements that flatter.

20:39

Lesson 7. Bust a Move

When it comes to bust sizes on plus-size women, one size does not fit all. Bust darts essentially add a place for your bust to fit into your garment without making the front hike up to show your belly. Marly shows you how to add bust darts to any sweater so it will flatter your figure.

27:01

Lesson 8. No More Pain in the Neckline

A sweater's neckline frames your face, so if your pattern includes a neckline that doesn't flatter you, change it! Marly explains how and gives hints about fashioning different neck silhouettes from crew necks to V-necks.

23:29

Lesson 9. Demystifying Armholes

Armhole shaping can be intimidating, but Marly walks you through the math and charting so you see how it's done, and how to adjust an armhole without a lot of complicated stitch pattern changes. Properly-sized armholes make a big difference in comfort as well as how your garment looks.

34:17

Lesson 10. Shaping Sleeves

Ill-fitting sleeves pose problems for many plus-size women. Take your sleeve and armhole measurements and let Marly show you how easy it is to adjust a sleeve cap to set in perfectly and fit like a dream.

11:22

Lesson 11. Bonus: Blocking Your Garment

Properly blocking your garment adds that finishing touch to hand-knitted garments. Follow along with Marly as she pins and shapes the final garment to ensure the perfect fit.

5:40

Lesson 12. Bonus: Knitting Apps

Are you in love with your cell phone or mobile device? The knitting community has developed clever and useful apps to carry your patterns with you, count stitches and calculate gauge.

"The bubbly personality of the instructor, Marly Bird, is definitely the key to the success of this class. There is an absolute truckload of information on offer, all very well explained. I loved every minute of it and now feel very confident to tackle making garments for myself. Thanks, Marly.
I'm going to have a go at the Curvy Crochet class next as I think that will be just as good!" - KelleyCQueensland, Australia

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Lesson plan

10:45

Lesson 1. Introduction

Meet Marly Bird, knit and crochet designer who loves to design beautiful things for curvy women. She explains what's coming up in Curvy Knits and talks about what skills you should have to best appreciate the course, as well as how to use the Craftsy interactive platform.

34:10

Lesson 2. Honest Measurements

Job one to achieve perfect-fitting garments is to know your dimensions, so grab a tape measure and some friends, and prepare for an enlightening experience. Then Marly explains what your favorite sweater will teach you, and shows you how knit and purl stitches, as well as lace and cables, can be perfect for plus-size women.

37:28

Lesson 3. Duct Tape Mannequin

Here's where you put those measurement skills into practice. Make a life-size mannequin of yourself! It costs $50, not $400, and helps you check fit as you knit. Round up some friends and let the duct taping begin!

16:45

Lesson 4. Choosing Patterns and Yarn

Garment design and yarn choice can make a big difference between knitting something that you'll wear often and something that makes you look like a Sherman tank. Marly explains how to choose a pattern that will flatter you, and select the best yarn for fit and appearance.

26:21

Lesson 5. Swatching: Creating Your Fabric

You wouldn't start sewing something without sampling the fabric, would you? That's what swatching is: Creating a fabric sample that tells you how your garment will perform, before you waste money and time knitting a garment you don't like. You'll learn how to use oversized swatches as a stitch library and a test platform for shaping and garment care.

28:29

Lesson 6. Shaping Your Knitting

Charts and diagrams will help you figure out how to take the information from your favorite sweater and use it to change a pattern. You will learn how to use shaping with lace and cables so your sweater fits perfectly, adding design elements that flatter.

20:39

Lesson 7. Bust a Move

When it comes to bust sizes on plus-size women, one size does not fit all. Bust darts essentially add a place for your bust to fit into your garment without making the front hike up to show your belly. Marly shows you how to add bust darts to any sweater so it will flatter your figure.

27:01

Lesson 8. No More Pain in the Neckline

A sweater's neckline frames your face, so if your pattern includes a neckline that doesn't flatter you, change it! Marly explains how and gives hints about fashioning different neck silhouettes from crew necks to V-necks.

23:29

Lesson 9. Demystifying Armholes

Armhole shaping can be intimidating, but Marly walks you through the math and charting so you see how it's done, and how to adjust an armhole without a lot of complicated stitch pattern changes. Properly-sized armholes make a big difference in comfort as well as how your garment looks.

34:17

Lesson 10. Shaping Sleeves

Ill-fitting sleeves pose problems for many plus-size women. Take your sleeve and armhole measurements and let Marly show you how easy it is to adjust a sleeve cap to set in perfectly and fit like a dream.

11:22

Lesson 11. Bonus: Blocking Your Garment

Properly blocking your garment adds that finishing touch to hand-knitted garments. Follow along with Marly as she pins and shapes the final garment to ensure the perfect fit.

5:40

Lesson 12. Bonus: Knitting Apps

Are you in love with your cell phone or mobile device? The knitting community has developed clever and useful apps to carry your patterns with you, count stitches and calculate gauge.

The instructor

Marly Bird, Instructor of Curvy Knits

Marlaina "Marly" Bird fled the world of financial services to launch her Yarn Thing podcast and hasn't looked back since. To Marly, a bi-craftsy girl who both knits and crochets, the yarn is the star, not how you work with it. She's creative director for Bijou Basin Ranch Yarns and the co-author of Curvy Crochet (Leisure Arts, 2011). You've seen her designs in Knit Simple, Interweave Crochet, Knitscene, Inside Crochet, Wild Fiber and Petite Purls, and in the books Perfectly Plus and Knitting Plus. In her spare time she raises three kids in suburban Denver.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(22 reviews)

Great Instructions

by heather-b on January 19, 2015

Loved the instructions for creating the duct tape dress form. Just the right amount of instruction; very detailed without droning on. There is lots of good info even if your not a plus size. I'm a 6-10 size girl but am always having to make adjustments in my clothes for my curviness even way back when I was I was a size two. These altering techniques are valuable for my knitting and sewing. Thank you so much!

Loved the instructions for creating the duct tape dress form. Just the right amount of instruction; very detailed without droning on. There is lots of good info even if your not a plus size. I'm a 6-10 size girl but am always having to make adjustments in my clothes for my curviness even way back when I was I was a size two. These altering techniques are valuable for my knitting and sewing. Thank you so much!

Love Her Energy!

by strid8 on November 10, 2014

Great information, accessibly presented. And no judgements!

Great information, accessibly presented. And no judgements!

Thank you

by Kay Babylon-West on September 27, 2014

Presented in an understandable and with a down to earth approach. Recommend this class

Presented in an understandable and with a down to earth approach. Recommend this class

Love Curvy Knits

by Aunt Coffee on September 22, 2014

Great instructor with lots of enthusiasm! Really enjoyed. Very helpful.

Great instructor with lots of enthusiasm! Really enjoyed. Very helpful.

Best Technique Class On Craftsy

by Bobbinsew on June 8, 2014

Marly deserves an award for her class. It well presented, makes sense and her PDF charts are second to none. I've learnt so much from this class, and will repeat watch it as necessary as I work on my own sweaters.Well Done Marly!(Note to Craftsy - I'm sure Marly has more to teach us, when are you adding another class from her!)

Marly deserves an award for her class. It well presented, makes sense and her PDF charts are second to none. I've learnt so much from this class, and will repeat watch it as necessary as I work on my own sweaters.Well Done Marly!(Note to Craftsy - I'm sure Marly has more to teach us, when are you adding another class from her!)